Staff who are happy work harder

Canadian law firm Gowlings is on Aon Hewitt's annual 2012 Best Employers in Canada list for the second consecutive year.

Photograph by: Handout

The stereotype of the harried lawyer working endlessly to meet billable-hours tar-gets without much time for life beyond the job is a familiar one. However, Gowlings, a national Canadian law firm recognized as a leader in business law, advocacy and intellectual property, has incorporated a number of wellness and employee engagement programs that cast such stereotypes aside.

Gowlings is on the annual 2012 Best Employers in Canada list for the second consecutive year.

Aon Hewitt, a human resources consulting firm that conducted the survey, ranked Gowlings 22nd on its list of organizations that most effectively engage their employees, having moved the firm up 14 places from the previous year.

The Aon Hewitt survey measures the percentage of employees who would recommend their firm to others, have no desire to leave, and say that the environment inspires them. They measure corporate social responsibility and opportunities for growth and learning.

To encourage staff engagement, which Gowlings defines as an employee's emotional and intellectual commitment to the company, the firm focuses on a variety of wellness, recognition, charity and environmentally sensitive practices.

The firm, with offices in Vancouver as well as across Canada and internationally, holds an annual Staff Appreciation Week where partners serve lunch to employees to acknowledge their role in making Gowlings a great place to work.

In addition, staff have access to reimbursements for fitness expenses and the opportunity to "gift" accrued time to colleagues. Staff can use the time donated by co-workers when they need extra time off work not covered by other benefits.

Sharon Mitchell, Gowlings' chief operating officer, said the reason the firm is committed to staff well-being is because, "we spend so much time at work that we want to ensure our workplace is as positive as possible." She also cited a business reason for the company's initiatives: "Staff who are happy, engaged and feel part of our business are more productive and work harder to achieve our client's objectives."

Staff are recognized for their effort with the company with long-term service awards for five, 10 and 15 years of service or more. Gowlings fundraises for the Run for the Cure and the United Way with staff support and has adopted a green policy that encourages less paper use. The Vancouver office promotes transit use among employees with subsidized transit passes.

Employees are encouraged to be involved in the way work gets done at Gowlings. In particular, an innovative billings system was created during the June 2010 postal strike by an employee who rose to the challenge of ensuring that clients received bills and other statements in a timely fashion.

Another employee in the Vancouver office sits on the firm's green committee nationally to promote Gowlings' green initiative and liaises with building management locally to ensure Gowlings participates in any activities they sponsor. It seeks to conserve energy and change business practices to preserve the environment.

As well, Gowlings takes pride in being a fun place to work. The Vancouver office hosts a base-ball team and a band made up of staff, professionals and students. Mitchell observes that: "Law firms are high pressure and if there isn't the ability to introduce some fun into our daily work lives, then it is difficult to keep the stress level down."

Wellness initiatives are designed to increase cohesiveness, camaraderie and compassion in a staff group. The benefits of offering wellness programs are many, including increased staff job satisfaction, healthier employees, a reputation for being an attractive place to work and a dedicated workforce.

Also, in a work environment that demands a lot from personnel, giving back is important. The firm has an employee assistance program for staff and offers coupons and a discount service for employees to receive savings on items they wish to buy. Mitchell observes: "Through 'great place to work' programs, we show our appreciation for our people and recognize their contribution to our collective success."

Recognizing the efforts of all staff is important in the pro-motion of employee well-being and in retaining and attracting talented personnel. In a field where being in the client's eye brings credit to the front-line lawyers, it is crucial that those who support them be recognized. Receptionists, clerical workers and administrative staff who form the back-bone of a legal firm can remain largely invisible without a concerted effort to recognize their contributions. By focusing on employee wellness and recognition, their efforts are brought out of the shadows, giving credit where it's due.

Dr. Jennifer Newman is a registered psychologist. She can be reached at info@drjennifernewman.com. Identifying information in cases cited has been changed to protect confidentiality.

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